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Opportunities for the North East in distribution, processing and value-adding . Michael Gobel Acting CEO, City of Wodonga. 21 August 2008. Introduction. Logic Wodonga – Geography, why here? Future of Logic Centre and Community Benefits Perspective on Saleyards
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Opportunities for the North East in distribution, processing and value-adding Michael Gobel Acting CEO, City of Wodonga 21 August 2008
Introduction • Logic Wodonga – Geography, why here? • Future of Logic Centre and Community Benefits • Perspective on Saleyards • Attracting investment into the region
What is LOGIC? • 610 ha Industrial Estate- Industrial 1 Zoning • Vision for Logic to be the freight and transport hub for South Eastern Australia • Direct link to the Ports • Excellent transport links to capital cities
What is LOGIC? • Strategically placed • Leverages off existing infrastructure assets • Owned by Council • Fully serviced
LOGIC is within an overnight drive of Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and is central to 75% of Australia’s population
Tenants at Logic • Woolworths • Border Express • Cope Sensitive Freight • Roadmaster • PacLib • Ronam
Future of Logic Wodonga and Community Benefit • Council has completed Stage 1 and has sold land into Stage 2. • Continue to lobby State and Federal Governments for funding for intermodal terminal. • Council decided to take the remainder of the Logic development out to EOI.
Future of Logic Wodonga and Community Benefit If the EOI process is successful then likely to get: • A greater rate of development at Logic • A greater rate of job growth, population growth • Reduction in borrowings • City renewal
Perspective on the Saleyards • Council’s existing saleyards at Bandiana • Average volume is over 200/- per year • Built 28 years ago • Largest throughput in Victoria and second largest in Australia.
Perspective on the Saleyards • Council commissioned Huefner to do a review of the Wodonga Saleyards in 2005/2006. • Conclusions from the review was that existing facility would require significant investment. • Huefner’s recommendation was to seek a greenfields site for a new best practice facility.
Perspective on the Saleyards • Council selected a proposed site north of Logic at Barnawartha North. • Council then went about entering into an EOI process • Result has been that we have announced a preferred proponent.
Perspective on the Saleyards • Negotiations will formally commence in the next couple of weeks. • Opportunity to secure a private sector operator. • Some opportunity for an agribusiness cluster around the new proposed saleyards.
Attracting business investment Work on selling the business case • Strategic location • Productive skilled labour force (Woolworths & Visy case studies) • Attractive lifestyle • Proactive Council with an investment attraction unit. Examples include Woolworths, Visy Board, Vitasoy, Mars Expansion, Roadmaster, Cope Sensitive Freight, Regional Infrastructure (SCA)
Conclusion • There are good opportunities in investing in distribution and value adding opportunities in the North East. These are a function of: - Our strategic location - Skilled productive labour force and - Access to major transport corridors • This is exemplified by the success of attracting businesses like Woolworths, Visyboard, Vitasoy, Mars recent expansion